There's been a lot of talk over the last couple of years — especially by Samsung during the course of its recent patent infringement trial — that Apple has obtained design patent coverage on rectangular devices with rounded corners. While that may not have been true before, it is now. The US Patent and Trademark Office issued patent no. D670,286 to Apple yesterday and it really does cover the outer edge shape of a device. There's no other way to look at it.As we've explained before, the scope of a design patent is defined by the drawings, and the solid lines are what counts —the dashed lines are just there for context. As you can see below, the 'D286 patent has a lot of gratuitous context but just a single solid line defining what is being protected.

Previous design patents on the iPad and iPhone have included at least one additional feature in solid lines — like the home button, the back surface contour, the bezel shape,the side profile, or the edge-to-edge screen. This one ignores all of that and simply focuses on the shape of that peripheral edge. It's a broad patent. Really broad. Granted, an argument can be made that the horizontal and vertical lengths of the solid edge line in the drawings limits the patent coverage to a specific proportional design that excludes tablets with different aspect ratios, but you wouldn't want that to be your primary defense.IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PATENT TO BE TOO BROAD TO ACTUALLY USEWill Apple ever use this patent against its competitors? Maybe, but there's an inherent downside to asserting a patent like this: it's vulnerable to invalidity arguments. The narrower a patent is the harder it is to find prior art devices or publications that have everything you need to knock it out. Conversely, the broader the patent the easier it is to come up with something that a judge or jury (or even the patent office) can use to invalidate it. Even though Apple submitted hundreds of prior art documents while this patent was being reviewed by the USPTO, it sure feels like a weapon too fragile for battle. It could very well just be a let's-see-what-we-can-get patent with no real offensive future. We'll see.

Just another facet of their arrogance. Currently got an iPad and iPhone 4S. On Tuesday, I'm buying the new Nexus 4 and moving away from Apple. Will think about the Nexus 10 or other competitor tablet in due course.

I just don't like how they're operating nowadays with these ludicrous patents and obscene amounts of litigation.

So that means that other companies like samsung cant create rectangular products with rounded edges? If so this is pathetic and just patents shouldnt even be given away to somebody, especially to somebody like Apple.

Apple isn't to blame here. The agency that granted the patent is the "crook". Nothing wrong with companies patenting things, designing, etc. I mean, they do it for profit, ya know... companies wanna make money at times.

as much as that article wants you to believe it, it's to vague of a patent to actually stick. All this is, is a "can we get away with this when we bring someone to court". This wont stick and when it goes to court apple will be a laughing stock. they kind of already are but even more so then.

seems to me that the panzies at Apple are still sour over their failed samsung lawsuit. lolz

as much as that article wants you to believe it, it's to vague of a patent to actually stick. All this is, is a "can we get away with this when we bring someone to court". This wont stick and when it goes to court apple will be a laughing stock. they kind of already are but even more so then.

seems to me that the panzies at Apple are still sour over their failed samsung lawsuit. lolz

Your are right that it probably wouldn't stick, and it's probably no big deal for Samsung to put the lawyers to work, but what about when Apple uses one of these broad patents on an unsuspecting little guy? They just drives them right out of business!

Apple should've fallen long ago, the sad thing is a lot of their followers are mindless drones ready to give up their money for anything. I mean iPad mini..seriously, the stupidest thing ever yet people still lapped it up.

Apple could make a product called iRape or iKill and it would still sell millions.

Apple should've fallen long ago, the sad thing is a lot of their followers are mindless drones ready to give up their money for anything. I mean iPad mini..seriously, the stupidest thing ever yet people still lapped it up.

Apple could make a product called iRape or iKill your wallet and it would still sell millions.

Fixed.

Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. A true ace lacks none of these attributes. Nothing can deter you from the task at hand except your own fears. This is your sky.

Apple should've fallen long ago, the sad thing is a lot of their followers are mindless drones ready to give up their money for anything. I mean iPad mini..seriously, the stupidest thing ever yet people still lapped it up.

Apple could make a product called iRape or iKill and it would still sell millions.

They think its unfair that a newer ipad came out only a few months after the previous as if they have to buy it by law.

Apple should've fallen long ago, the sad thing is a lot of their followers are mindless drones ready to give up their money for anything. I mean iPad mini..seriously, the stupidest thing ever yet people still lapped it up.

Apple could make a product called iRape or iKill and it would still sell millions.

Your comment isn't any better than the assumption you made. If YOU don't like it, then don't buy it. Generalizing people that would actually use it isn't excusable. Ya know.. like Samsung has the 10.1" tablet, and the 7" one. How about Asus Transformer Prime, and the Nexus 7, made by Asus? How about Sony making a 10" tablet, and the smaller version with two screens... cmon.

Originally Posted by keefy

They think its unfair that a newer ipad came out only a few months after the previous as if they have to buy it by law.

OR, that they bought an inferior device, hardware wise, only a few months ago.... just like a lot of people have been pissed at Google for releasing a new Nexus 7 with double storage, for the same price, just a few months after releasing the "launch" device. The 16GB gets dropped in price. It pisses people off when this happens.

Apple should've fallen long ago, the sad thing is a lot of their followers are mindless drones ready to give up their money for anything. I mean iPad mini..seriously, the stupidest thing ever yet people still lapped it up.

Apple could make a product called iRape or iKill and it would still sell millions.

The iPad mini is actually quite a nice device. I have an iPad 3 and i would still buy an iPad Mini once they decided to release one with a retina display. Why? Because it is much nicer to hold as it is incredibly light compared to the standard iPad.

The sad thing is millions of people are quite upset about the success Apple are having as of late and result to stupid remarks. Ironically i find it funny that the mindless drones tend to be the ones who jump on the Apple hate wagon spewing their opinions.

As F34R already pointed out, I do hope you have an issue with the Nexus 7 once the Nexus 10 is released.

Originally Posted by keefy

They think its unfair that a newer ipad came out only a few months after the previous as if they have to buy it by law.

The audacity of a company releasing new products. How DARE they!

I understand where Apple are coming from. While it is a very petty patent it's understandable, they want to protect their IP and so they should. Lets be honest, Samsung have taken a lot of inspiration from Apple...

What do you mean? Other brands are using the Apple logo? Ironic that the beetles once sued Apple for using the Apple as a logo (iirc)

As embarrassing as their suing behaviour is it doesn't bother me. I like their products and their suing doesn't affect me so they can go about galavanting around the world suing whoever they wish to sue.

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